Taiwan's Inflation Rises 1.41%

Updated March 4, 2002 11:12 p.m. ET

Taiwan's consumer prices in February rose for the first time in four months, due mainly to higher merchandise prices and service charges during the Chinese New Year holiday. The consumer price index rose 1.41% year-one-year in February, a reversal from January's revised 1.68% drop, the government said Tuesday. The market had expected an increase of 0.54%. The wholesale price index fell 2.04% year-on-year in February, narrower than January's revised 3.57% decline. The market had expected a 1.90% decline. The Chinese New Year holiday, which fell in February this year and in January last year, accounted for much of the...